Jeremy Paxman To Investigate Fear Of Beards In One-Man Show

Jeremy Paxman as the Newsnight presenter has promised to investigate "pogonophobia, underpants and the human condition" in a new one-man stage show.

Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman has pledged to investigate pogonophobia - the irrational fear of beards - in a new one-man show at the Edinburgh Festival.

The broadcaster, who made headlines last year when he presented an edition of the current affairs show with a beard, will discuss ""pogonophobia, underpants and the human condition" in the show in August.

An advertisement for the show, which is called Paxo, said: "The broadcaster, author and Spitting Image puppet probes pogonophobia, underpants and the human condition. With surprises galore and your opportunity to quiz the grand inquisitor, Paxo unstuffs the man ranked by GQ Magazine as 'Britain's 26th rudest person'."

Paxman accused the BBC of pogonophobia after his appearance with a beard caused a stir.

Speaking last year, he said: "I have grown a beard for the last few summers, and suddenly wondered whether I really needed to shave it off to present Newsnight.

''Unless you're lucky enough to be Uncle Albert on Only Fools And Horses, Demis Roussos or Abu Hamza, the BBC is generally as pogonophobic as the late-lamented Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha."